Rick spends seven chapters describing how man think and why they behave the way they do. Then he spends seven chapters talking about women and their unique thoughts and behaviors.

I’m a counselor and I’ve been married for 26 years, so much of this book confirmed what I knew. However, there were parts that were new and interesting. Mostly what I loved about the book was Rick’s lighthearted writing and his clear examples.

Johnson expresses an important point about marriage: It’s not about finding the perfect person. It’s about loving the imperfect person in an unselfish manner.

There were a few parts in the book that felt cliché: Women wanting to shop, and women not liking sex as much as men. (Maybe I assumed he was saying they don’t like sex as much, when in actuality he may have been saying women arrive at this place in a very different way than men do.) Other than these two examples, I felt like the book did a good job of handling the most important topics to men and women.

One of the best features of the book is that the end of each chapter includes:

A summary of the differences between men and women

Words they might be saying in their heads

Words a spouse can say that heal

Words a spouse can say that wound

In summary, the book is helpful. It is filled with interesting facts, backed by research, and written in a fun, upbeat tone.

Lucille Zimmerman is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a private practice in Littleton, CO and an affiliate faculty teacher at Colorado Christian University.

She is also the author of Renewed: Finding Your Inner Happy in an Overwhelmed World. Through practical ideas and relatable anecdotes, readers can better understand their strengths and their passions—and address some of the underlying struggles or hurts that make them want to keep busy or minister to others to the detriment of themselves. Renewed can help nurture those areas of women’s lives to use them better for work, family, and service. It gives readers permission to examine where they spend their energy and time, and learn to set limits and listen to “that inner voice."

6 days agoby lucille_zimmermanBreakfast when you have houseguests = Pizza and (Palisade) Peaches

1 week agoby lucille_zimmermanI love writing notes to the kids we sponsor around the world. I love when my two-year-old grandbaby points to their pictures on the refrigerator. She knows their names. Honestly I feel like my kids do more for me than I do for them. I covet their prayers! #compassion#foodforthehungry#feedmystarvingchildren#worldvision I always put stickers in the notes I sent back to them. What do you like to send to children that your sponsor?